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Image posted by Wynne Route
Submitted on Monday, 5th April 2010
With picture contributions to 3488 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (13 more images)
Detail Pages
Rain Bar, Manchester Central, Manchester
Manchester
M1 5JG
Served areas
Rain Bar
*MONDAY 21st October*
Our kitchen shall be CLOSED all day for maintenance.. but never fear, we’ll be reopen for al… https://t.co/bEDwsFgwXL
3:48 PM Oct 17th from Twitter for iPhone
Reviews of Rain Bar (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Rain Bar
This is a interesting old building, apparently John Willie Lees' flagship pub, the name Rain Bar does not reflect the regular Manchester weather but due to the pub once being an umbrella factory. A central bar with the boarded room wrapping around either side, some high tables towards the frontage and better booth type options to the rear. Down a few steps at the back is a partly separated area and the front corner has a snug which has a fire going and a picture above of some young bloke who looked rather unsettling to me.
Possibly the best seats are outside, a tiered area overlooks the Rochdale canal, I visited on an unseasonal sunny Manchester early lunchtime, it was a splendid spot to sit.
Lots of exposed brickwork, old beamed and unboarded ceiling.
JW Lees beers, Bitter, MPA, The Governer and Drayman's Reward. Food served, I was in early doors on Friday, lots of groups were ordering food already around 12. A nice well appointed spot, bet it is heaving at night.
On 15th November 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1682 recommendations about 1659 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Rain Bar
A large and imposing pub located just a stone’s throw from Oxford Street station, the pub covers the ground floor of the building and is largely one open plan room, although with a couple of segregated areas off of it and a separate function room where a gospel choir were in full voice on a recent Monday evening visit.
The wood panelled bar counter is in the middle of the room with seating all around it. Bench seating at the rear was separated in to cubicles with wooden partitioning. Decor wise, the floor is polished wood with some chequered inlaid tiles in places and there was much exposed brick work which had been painted cream along the front wall. A tiny snug area was off to one side down a few steps, and there was another room at the front with wood panelling on the walls and a roaring fire making it somewhat reminiscent of a hotel drawing room.
The menu looked to be a fairly standard pub grub affair with options such as cod & chips, sausage & mash, chilli con carne and chicken Tikka Masala as well as a number of grills, sharing platters and pies. Most of the main courses were in the £8 - £10 range.
Beers on tap were predominantly from JW Lees with their Bitter, Archer Stout and Manchester Pale Ale as well as Marco Pierre-White’s The Guvnor. The solitary cider was Strongbow, unfortunately. All in all this is a solid enough pub I suppose, but there are several other options within a short stroll that are far preferable.
On 6th March 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1630 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Rain Bar
Called in lots of times since my last review, the latest being just after Xmas when a couple of pints of Lees Plum Pudding went down well.
29/04/2010
Modern pub that was indeed converted from an umbrella factory. Lee's pub selling Bitter, John Willies and at least one of the seasonals. Pricey for a Lee's pub but pretty cheap for Manchester city centre. Decent beer, good wine list, good range of food. It's a nice place to go with the other half. Packed in summer at lunchtimes and early evenings with the office crowd, but very pleasant early evening at the weekend. Has a multi level patio out the back overlooking the Rochdale canal.
On 19th January 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2733 recommendations about 2661 pubs]
View more reviews of Rain Bar (7)
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Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Function Room : Yes - According to Twitter - last updated 21 July 2015 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 07 August 2013 by David McNally
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- WiFi : Yes last updated 07 August 2013 by David McNally
